Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee Mike Gabbard and Representative Nicole Lowen, Chair of the House Environmental Protection and Energy Committee, have introduced proposed legislation that would offer greater protections to Hawaii’s sharks and rays.
Under the proposal, it would be a misdemeanor “to knowingly capture, take, possess, abuse, or entangle any shark or ray, whether alive or dead, or kill any shark or ray, within state marine waters. The law would provide exceptions, including those for research, cultural practices and the protection of public safety.”
“Sharks (mano) and Rays (hihimanu) are key marine species, important to the resliency of our oceans. They deserve full protection under law from unnecessary killing or exploitation” Gabbard said via press release.
Penalties would range from $500 for a first offense to $10,000 for a third or subsequent offense. The proposed law would be the first of its kind to explicitly prohibit the intentional killing, capture, abuse or entanglement of sharks or rays.
“As apex predators, sharks and rays help to keep the ocean ecosystem in balance, and protecting them from unnecessary harm is essential to the health of our coral reefs. I’m hopeful that this year will be the year that we are able to take this important step.” Lowen said.
A similar measure, Senate Bill 2079, passed the Senate unanimously last year with broad public support, including OHA and DLNR, but stalled in the House. This year’s bills await introduction and assignment of new bill numbers.
